INNOVATIVE SUPPLYCHAIN SOLUTIONS.
T: 416-748-8982
Email: info@leansupplysolutions.com
Lean Supply Solutions.
3130 Caravelle Dr Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1K9 Canada
Supply chains encircle seemingly unrelated and irrelevant events together with thousands of gigabytes of reference data which seems like chaos. Like notes in music, un-arranged they become noise but when co-ordinated, correlated, sequenced they can form beautiful harmonies of music. Harmony Logistics Platform as a Service.
Our Supply Chain Harmony platform is a set of technologies for executing and co-relating seemingly unrelated events into cohesive and harmonious information stream that will be used to optimize and streamline your supply chain.
The "supply chain" is not a single entity, though it is often referred to as such. Any time a product reaches a customer, it has done so because of a combined effort by multiple groups and businesses, each one with its own management and goals. Ineffective logistics arise when companies devote their attentions to their own activities without regard for how they fit into the larger whole. Supply chain management, therefore, is the act of overcoming this limitation. It takes each service of the supply chain and coordinates it into a conscious attempt to deliver quality results. We at Lean Supply Solutions offer supply chain management as a central part of our services.
What Supply Chain Management Does
The simplest way to explain supply chain management activities is that they are all efforts to improve efficiency and effectiveness across all stages of the supply chain. Any supply chain service is a potential target for management activities, and the actions frequently cover multiple stages of the logistics and fulfillment process. This covers matters like how products are distributed, material sourcing, manufacturing quantity, quality testing, product storage, and more.
Another aspect is that supply chain management concerns itself with the flow of information just as much as physical goods and material. The way information and orders flow from suppliers to manufacturers to distributors to consumers and back again heavily shapes how each step of the supply chain interacts with one another and the impact this has on the consumer.
Working Towards the Perfect Supply Chain
The perfect supply chain services are ones in which stock is kept to the minimum necessary to meet customer orders. Every product that gets made gets sold. Every product that gets bought gets shipped out and arrives quickly, in good condition, to the correct customer. Minimized costs mean maximized profits.
A perfect supply chain is, of course, impossible. Errors are inevitable in any system, and practices, technology, and consumer habits and interest will change regularly. What is considered the most efficient model today will not necessarily hold the position a year from now.
This is why effective supply chain management is also a process of continual evaluation and tinkering. In addition to coordinating information, activities, and devising ways to reduce costs or enhance processes, supply chain management is a constant search for data. How fast are orders fulfilled, how many errors happen, what kinds of errors, how does this process for one product compare to that process for another? This material supplier can deliver faster but that one can do more volume—which leads to better results? You've just switched up a process--what do you need to track to see if you're getting the expected improvements? These questions, and many more, are all data-driven and require accurate and fully formed assessments in order to produce informative and ideal answers that can enhance the supply chain overall.
The Lean Methodology
Lean Supply Solutions is a third-party logistics order fulfillment and supply chain management company in Toronto. Our operations are based around the Lean Methodology, a proven philosophy focused on eliminating any operations, equipment, or resources that are not capable of adding value to our clients' supply chain. By striving to ensure that the right products are provided to the right customers at the right time, Lean Supply Solutions is able to offer consistent, accurate, and quality results.
To learn more about our logistics and supply chain management, contact us at 905-482-2590.
FAQ
What Is Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Management?
Third-party logistics (3PL) management is when a company uses an outsourced organization to manage their distribution and fulfillment processes. The 3PL provider serves as the “middle man” between shippers and authorized carriers to negotiate terms of transactions and arrange the best delivery method and transportation method each time an order needs to get to a customer.
What Is Fourth-Party Logistics?
Fourth-party logistics (4PL) refers to the coordinator of your supply chain—the organization who has the role of designing, establishing, testing, and running a network of 3PL providers according to the expectations and requirements of an organization. 3PL providers are more commonly used by organizations, but companies are also looking toward the benefits of 4PL providers.
What Is Inventory Control?
Inventory control is required to ensure there is always the right number of items in stock; not too much and not too little. Even the smallest businesses need to incorporate some kind of measures to manage these operations and keep them under control. There are many different options to manage inventory control, but one of the best options are those provided by 3PL providers.
What Kinds of Customers Benefit from 3PL Service Providers?
The role of 3PL companies is to streamline the supply chain to deliver products to market. Customers who typically use these services include distribution-sensitive supply chains, small- to medium-sized organizations, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers. These customers can be in any industry including automotive, food and beverage, e-commerce/retail, pharmaceutical/healthcare, trade show transportation, specialty, and more.
How Can I Choose the Best 3PL Service Provider?
Choosing the right provider is a very important part of making sure your supply chain runs smoothly and optimally. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice for you:
- Research your options carefully to find out if their services can integrate with your operations
- Establish a partnership that you can trust
- Find out how many capabilities they have and whether they can meet your needs
- Ensure they have robust, up-to-date technology
- Aim for a company with scalability to make way for peak and low seasons
- Find out if they have customizable options for you
- Find out whether they commit to continuous improvement
- Find one that offers expertise in an omnichannel solution
- Choose a 3PL provider with a network of locations
How Does Lean Supply Solutions Differ from Other 3PL Providers?
With so many 3PL providers out there, it can be challenging to find the right one for you. At Lean Supply Solutions, we strive to stand out from the competition by offering our Lean Methodology principles. This mindset and value of our organization focuses on eliminating any operations, equipment, and resources that do not bring success and value to our clients’ supply chain. We ensure that your customers get their products at the right time, and offer you consistent, accurate, and quality results.